Multipurpose suction cleaning tool



Feb. 17, 1959 P. BORKOSKI 2,873,469 MULTIPURPOSE SUCTION CLEANING TOOL Filed May 2, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR LEON P Bee/{05m 42 ms ATTORNEY Feb. 17, 1959 L. P. BORKOSKI 7 MULTIPURPOSE SUCTION CLEANING TOOL Filed May 2, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /4 T I .W

INVENTOR v LEON P Boa/(05m yaw/am HIS ATTORNEY L. P. BORKOSKI MULTIPURPOSEZ SUCTION CLEANING TOOL Feb. 17, 1959 Filed May 2. 1955 13. 3.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR LEON P Beams/r1 H15 ATTORNEY United SftatesPatcnt Leon P. Borkoski, Stamford, 'Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Delaware Application May 2, 1955, sen'n No. 505,311 Claims. or. 15-417 My inventionrelates to vacuum cleaning tools and moreparticularly to a dual purpose tool having two different types of nozzle openings. As illustrated by way of example, one of these nozzle openings is suitablefor cleaning a carpet or other soft surface covering, while the other is provided with bristles for making it suitable forcleaning bare floors or hard surface covering.

' One of; the objects of my invention is to provide a nozzle of this type which may be veryreadily shifted so as to, bring the different nozzle openings selectively into operative position. Another object of my invention is to providea nozzle of this type having a minimum height so that it may be manipulated under low furniture, while at the same timeproviding suificiently large passages therethrough for the flow of air.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will a be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings Old Greenwich, Conn, a corporation of which form a part of this specification and of which:

Fig. 1.is the top view of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a" view of one partpf the nozzle illustrated in Fig. 1, and is takenpnthe lines 2- 2 of Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 3 .is a view of another part of theno'zzle and is taken on the lines 3--3-of Figs. 4 and 5; i i

Fig. 4 is a rear view of thejinozzleshown in Fig.1; Fig.5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 5-5 of Figs. 1 and 4 and shows thesuction tool with the rug nozzle in operative position; i

Fig ois a: cross-sectional view similar to Fig: 5, but showingthe brush nozzle in operative position; 7 Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional ,view taken on the lines, 7-7 of Figs. 1 and 4;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a valvemember forming part of the nozzle illustrated, in the preceding figures;

Fig. 9 is aview similar to Fig. l, but showing a second embodiment of my invention; l 1 5 Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines Ill-10 of Fig; 9; n

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 11 11 of Fig. 9 and shows the rug nozzle in operative position;' t

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 11, but with the ,brush nozzle in ,operativqposition; and

Fig. 13 is a"perspective view'of a valve member forming part of the nozzle illustrated in Figs. 9 through 12.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 8, reference character 10 designates generally a nozzle body which is made up of parts 12 and 14 which are joined together along their respective mating surfaces 16 and 18 by means of screws 20. The outer face of member 12 is provided with lip structure 22 which surrounds a suction opening 24, this face constituting the rug nozzle portion of the tool. The outer face of part 14 is provided wtih rows of brush bristles 26 which 2,873,469 Patented Feb. 17, 1959 surround a suction inlet opening 28, this face of the tool constituting the floor brush. The respective mating surfaces 16 and 18 are formed with aligned semi cylindrical recesses 30 and 32 which together form a cylindrical valve chamber with which the suctionpassages 24 and 28 communicate. These mating surfaces are also formed with grooves 34 and 36, respectively, which extend from the recesses 30 and 32 through semicylindrical bosses 38 and 40, respectively, these grooves forming an outlet passage through therear face of the body 10 when the parts 12 and 14 are assembled together. An elbow 42 is preferably secured between the bosses 38 'and 40 so as to be rotatably connected to the outer end of this exhaust passage.

Disposed in the cylindrical valve chamber formed by therecesses 30 and 32 is a cylindrical valve member 44 to the ends of which are secured pins or shafts 46 and 48 which occupy semicircular grooves formed 'in the mating surfaces 16 and 18. Actuating arms 50 and 52 areconnected to the ends of shafts 46 and 48, re spectively, and extend to the exterior of the body 10 through aligned slots 54 and 56 formed in the surfaces 16 and 18, respectively. One of the arms, for example arm 52 has attached thereto an over-center spring 58, as is shown more particularly in Fig. 7, for retaining the actuating arm in either of its extreme positions and for tending to prevent it from remaining in any intermediate position. I

With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, that is with the rug nozzle in operative position on a surface to be cleaned and with the actuating arms 50 and 52 extending downwardly towards this surface, it will be seen that the valve 44 establishes communication between the nozzle opening 24, and the outlet. pas sage leading to the elbow 42. Consequently, if this elbow is connected by the usual suction conduit with a vacuum cleaner, air willbe drawn in through the rug,

nozzle opening and will remove dirt from carry it to the cleaner. i i

If it is desired to use the tool on a hardwood floor or the like, the body 10 is swiveled through. around elbow 42 so as to bring the bristles 26 into position. The valve 44 is then shifted 'by'moving one or "the other of the arms 50 or52 to the opposite end of the slot. Inasmuch as 'thefloor tool has been turned over from. theposition showniin Fig. 4, this opposite end of the slot will now be the lower end. In other words, regardless of which nozzle is in operative position, the actuating arms -50 and 52 should. always be inclined downwardly towards :the fioorfin order that the valve 44 will connect the suction outlet with the nozzle open ing which is in operative position. Thetwo arms 50' and 52 are preferably provided so that, regardless of the position of the nozzle body, there is always an arm available for operation on each side of the elbow 42. These arms may be readily operated by the toe, particularly inasmuch as the movement is always in a downwarddirection, and it is 'more convenient to always use the same .foot for this' purpose; A righthanded person usually will'prefer toius e the rightfoot foff'perforining an operation 3 of tl1is"type, and"withtlie two levers there is alwaysone available on the right side of the elbow where it may be operated easily by the right foot.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 9 through 13 the pin or shaft 48 extending from the valve 44 carries a relatively heavy weight 60 which is disposed entirely on one side of the shaft. This weight is sufficient to pivot the shaft 48 and valve 44 to a position such that the weight always occupies the bottom of the opening formed by the slots 54' and 56. As shown, the weight 60 the rug and is cast integral with'the shaft 48 and the cylindrical wall of valve 44 is thinner than in the first embodiment in order to reduce the weight of the valve tending to counterbalance the weight 60. As appears in Figs. 11 and 12, the weight 60 enema-airman, from the opening formed by-1slfots 54 and56 so asto constitute an actuatin'g accessible for manual operation, as the toe, in the event the weight of the fails to shift the valve automatically because of excessive friction.

Inasmuch as the weight 60 is disposed entirely on one side of the center of rotation of the body 10 about the elbow 42, whenever the nozzle is lifted from the floor,it will swing to and a little past a vertical position so that if it is then moved downwardly towards the floor it will beturned through the remainder of a half revolution so that the other nozzle will be brought into operative position. At the same time, the weight 60 drops to the bottom of the opening, thus shifting the valve so as to establish communication with this nozzle opening. Consequently, in this embodiment both the turning over of the nozzle and the shifting of the valve result automatically when the nozzle is lifted from and then replaced on the 'floor.

Heretofore-nozzles "ofthis general type have been made with the valve for establishing communication with the nozzle in operative position arranged to be rotated about an axis p'arallel'to the discharge passage. With a valve in this position its dimensions have been limited by the size ofthe nozzle. Thus, the diameter of such a valve cannot be greater than the'height of the nozzle and its length cannot be greater than the depth of the nozzle, and with such a valve it has not been possible to obtain a" desired flow area therethrough without making the nozzle larger than desired. In the nozzle in accordance with'the present invention, wherein the valve is rotatable about an axis parallel to the lengthwise extent of the nozzle, while the diameter of the valve is limited by the height of the nozzle body, the desired length is only limited by the length of the nozzle which is much greater than is required to provide the necessary cross-sectional flow area. As will be seen from Figs. 5 and 6, the flow area through the valve is as great as that through the outlet passage and if a greater area of flow through the valve were desired, it could be readily obtained by merely making the valve longer.

While Ihave described two more or less specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done forthe purpose of illustration only and'that the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby but is. to be determined from the appended claims.

What 'I claim is: I

- 1. A suction cleaning tool comprising an elongated body of relatively low height for use in cleaning under objects having little clearance beneath the same, said body having a right circular cylindrical recess lengthwise within the same and outlet passages therefrom to the opposite faces of said body to render each face useable for cleaning, andhaving another passage for alternate connection of :one of said passages with a source of suction, .a valve member rotatably mounted for selectively providing communication with one of said passages and a source ofsuction, said valve member being constructed and arranged ina manner that it is in intimate contact with said recess at all times so as to exclude foreign matter to avoid interference with the operation of said valve member, said valve member having a concave said passages is open and the other closed at all times.

2. The structure of claim 1 having an arm for operating said valve member accessible from the exterior of said tool. r

3. A suction cleaning tool comprising an elongated body of relatively low height capable of being used for cleaning under objects having little clearance beneath the same, said bodyhaving cleaningnozzles on opposite sides of the same and with passages therefrom terminating in a recess disposed lengthwise within said body,

said body having an opening from .said recess through 1 the rear of said body for connectionwith a source of suction, said recess having wall structure coinciding with afportion of the circumference of a right circular cylinder, and a valve member of complementary size andshapc and mounted onfsubstantially the'same axis as the cylinder with the surface of said valve member and the surface of said cylinder in-intimate relation at all times-to exclude foreign matter which might interfere with the operation ofthe valvemcinber and spring biasing means for maintaining's'aid valvemernber in a position that one of said passages is open and the other closed at all times.

4. The structure of claim *3 having actuating means for said valve member accessible from the exterior of said body.

5. A suction cleaning tool comprising an elongated body of relatively low height for use in cleaning under objects having little clearance beneath the same, said body having a substantially cylindrical recess lengthwise within the same and outlet passages therefrom to the opposite faces of the body to render each face u'sable for cleaning and having another passage for alternate connection of one of said passages with a source of suction, a valve body mounted in said recess for selectively providing exclusive communication with one or the other faces of said body and such source-of suction, saidv valve body and the interior of said recess being similarly curved whereby when'they are assembled they are in intimate relation at all times in a manner to eirclude foreign matter from between the sam'ewhich'might interfere with the operation of said valve'bo'dy, an actuating arm for said valve body accessible from the exterior of said body, and spring biasing means for maintaining said valve .body in a position such that one er said passages is open and the other closed at all References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,104 Moorhead .May 14, 1912 1,234,446 Clark July 24, 19.17 2,142,978 Erilrsson-Jons Ian. 3, 1-939 2,143,845 Edstrom Jan. .17, 1939 2,371,767 Lofgren Mar. 20, .1945 2 ,619,315 Ott Nov. 25, v 2 2,656,560 Smith Oct. 27, 19.53 V FOREIGN PATENTS 185,125 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1936 

